Universal joint



y 16, 1940- A. F. GREINER UNIVERSAL JOINT- v Filed July 31, 19:57

2 Shae ts-Sheet I INVENTOR BY ANTON F.GRE|NER WTTORNEYS 1940- A. F. GREINER '5 80.

7 UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed July 51, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -FIG.5.

INVENTOR.

ANTON F. GREINER BY v v Patented July 16, 1940 I V V u STATES "P T" Y 2,207,980

I'INIVERSAL JOINT Antoni; Greiner, Detroit, Mich Application. J-uly 31, 1937, Ser al No. 156,803

' 9 mm. :('Cl'...64--2'1) 'l'hisrinvention relatestouniversal 'jointsg-and Fig; 8 is an axial section of. one of the outer moreparticularlyto universal, joints whichv give cylindrical key members; I constant velocity .ratioqat comparatively wide Fig. 9" is an axial section of thekey member mles: of deflection. showninFig. 8 taken on the lines -9:--9"of Fig. 8; I oiigfcgrof the. inventing toproguce a hFig.. 10 a ztopelevation of the key member ve ,jo .exreme. rugge ness. an sims ownin g. plinth-whichnevertheless-retainstheadvantages Big. is a top elevation of the coope a n of. the morecomplicatedstructures now known male key member; to: the art. Fig. 12 is. a front elevation of the key member ,EItimaiurther-object pfithepresent invention shownin. Fig. '11; 10 topmduce; atuniversalijointiof the type described Fi s; n leva n 0f t e key em er wn inwhichzthe':maiorelementsmay be cast,,forged in Fig. 11. taken. 90 from the side elevation oforz'pressedyandinrwhichthe machining work re- Fig. .12;

-quired1zto*-flnish-the-jomt may be kept at a rnini- Fig. 14 is .a section of the outer and the inner mum. key member-in mating position and inserted into 15 Afurther objector the invention. is to. provide thetorque ring member and provided with needle aumversaLjpintin which. the necessity for mabearings insteadof ordinary journal bearings and chiningwa :large spherical housing and/or \body also providedwith a locking washer. isgelim' lnated; My impgoved liniversal joint cognpries two so It is-.;a. .mrther c-obiect of the. invention .to prom n mem ra a r n rin m rn er and a m wide a.=universal-joint inswhich the major female s mpleshaftmember 30. The torsion ring memelement-is unitaryasiopp sedto the conventional ber ll l pri h m n l p r of h Iormin-whiQh-said-member is formed'in twoor J nt n whi h i received the gen r lly-upset moi-smarts. v portion 34vof the shaft member 3i). p

u A. further object of the invention isto provide nuniversal joints of this typ it s een-11cca universal joint of the type desc'ribedwitha minessary-in many constructions to machine the ini number f parts, tgrior of time mlainhfeimale mefmber to a spherical Itis a further object of the invention to pro- S w Wi a egree 0 cy. It has vice auniyersal joint ofj'the typehereinidi-sclosed l e necessary to machine the oper ing '80 whichmmaybe manufactured at a cost materially l DO tion 60a spherical shape with ,a high de less than heretofore possible. gree ofaccuracy. Both of these above mentioned It is a further object of'this invention to. promachlnmg ;D are dlfficult to accomplish duoe a universal joint which maybe assembled and Where hey are accurately Carried Out, add complete, packed t l b t d Sealed up so materially to the cost of the universal joint permanently before'leaving the factory. that} at; ttlll e vpresent tingle no ellifinienthuniversal 3 Other objects and advantages of the present J J 18 "W 15 on 8 6 W1 na reainvention "will :be apparent from the. "following o mj fi I detailed descriptionand from theillustrative .em- In my improved universal J I avoid the 'bodiment of the invention in the accompanying necessity 9 accurate machining 4311859 0 ,dmwmg'sllnwhich I I large spherical surfaces by means of theconstrucfignlisasideelevation of the assembled joint 9 describe?" T -W W ring m withvputstbroken awayltvo Show theyassembly; ber 20 comp-rises a cylindrical portion 2| of rem 2 i s ction on. the li ne of Fig duced diarneternhavmg standard key ways 22 1? g t 1 ti 1 th formed ontheinterior surface thereof for cone e'eva om on nection to:;a.:shait. At one end of the-cylindrical ring s member-2i the torsion ring member 'flaresout- Fig. 3111s a. side. elevation of a modified form pwairdly m [a generally conical portion 13 to an of tm'sion'nnglpafrfly m-sectlqni enlarged diameter. A second cylindrical, portion F- ofllthe 2A. completesthe main portion of the one. piece so :5. isza detail side elevation-=ofthe.-ma1n tgrsion ring member The cylindrical, portion 350 shaftmember; comprises the torsion'ring proper and is, provided Fig. 6is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; with a pluralityof, circumferentially.spaced aper- Flg. 711s an..enlarged,sectional 'detailof the tures .25. The outer end of the torsion ring 24- means for attaching the cover member'to the is beveled or tapered as .at'il. .In the conical mainshaft; I portion 23 of the torsion ring member is pro- 5 vided a standard lubricating nipple 26 for charging the interior of the assembled universal joint with lubricant. Instead of cylindrical part 2| Wlth internalv keyways, an ordinary flange 2| may be provided as shown in Fig. 3a.

The second major portion of the improved universal joint comprises a male shaft member generally indicated at 30 which has a portion 3| provided with standard key ways for connection to a shaft.

pear. Between the collar 32 and the upset member 34 is provided a cylindrical portion 33. ball member 34 may be of a roughly round, cylindrical, spherical or conical shape but it is not necessarily machined to exact dimensions. It is sufficient in my improved universal joint that this ball be roughly finished to shape by casting, forging or pressing. In the free end of the spherical ball member 34 I providea recess 36 and I also provide cylindrical recesses 35 spaced around theperiphery of the spherical member 34 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 30. The recesses 35 are connected at their bottom to the central recess 36 previously described by small passageways 31 which provide for the flow of lubricant outwardly from the central chamber 36 to the interior of the recesses 35. t

The recesses 35 are the same in ,number and spacing as the apertures 25 formed in the torsion ring 24.

In order to provide for the transmission of torque between the two members just described and at the same time to preserve the necessary angular motion between the parts, I provide cooperating key members 4| and 45 shown in detail in Figs. 8 to 13. These cooperating key members are shown as of generally cylindrical shape, but may be conical, o'r frustro conical or spherical, and are adapted to be received within the apertures 25 in the torsion ring and within the recesses 35 in the spherical ball member respectively. The

key member 45 has an accurately finished concave surface 46, herein shown as spherical, formed at one end thereof and a groove 41 formed in the spherical surface. This member 45 is positioned within the apertures 25 in the torsionring when the device is assembled. The key members 4| may be generally cylindrical in shape and are provided with an accurately finished convex surface 42, herein shown as spherical, adapted to cooperate and mate with the concave surface 46 of the key members 45. Formed on the convex surface 42 of the key members 4| are fiat flanges 43 provided with a curved top surface 44. These flanges are adapted to fit in the slots 41 in the key members 45 and to transmit the torque thereby.

I have illustrated inFig. 14 the keys 4| and 45 in assembled relation and mounted with needlebearings 46 associated therewith; Where these bearings 46 are employed I prefer to provide a locking washer 41 as shown in Fig. 14. This modification as will be understood, is an alternative to the form in which the key is mounted in a cup bearing.

The relationship between the curved surfaces An annular collar 32 is provided on] the shaft for a purpose which will presently ap- The . cylindrical portion 55.

A retaining ring'ill is provided which is adapted to retain the members 45 in position in the apertures 25 in the torsion ring. The ring is se-.

cured in place by one or more screws 5|) (see Fig. 2) threaded into the portion 24 of the member 20. This retaining ring 5|)has an inwardly tapering portion 50' which -is adapted to be received within a cover member generally indicated at 5|. This cover member 5| comprises a cylindrical'portion 52 of a diameter sufficient to closely engage the outer periphery of the retaining ring 50. A conical portion 53 connects the cylindrical portion 52 with asecond smaller Substantially at the intersection of the tapered portion 53 and the cylindrical portion 55 I provide an inwardly extending annular flange 54 which is of an inside diameter such that-it closely surrounds the periphery of the shaft 33. A plug member 56 ,is provided which is annular in shape. The inside diameter of the plug 56 is such that it closely engages the flange 32. p The plug 56 has a threaded aperture" 51 for receiving a screw 58 which is adapted to be received within a suitably tapped aperture 58' in the flange 32. r 1

The assembly of my improved and simplified universal joint will now be explained. Key members 4| are placed within the recesses 35 of the upset portion or member 34. The member '34 with the key members 4| in place is then moved into the open end of the torsion ring 24 and is rotated relative thereto until the key'members 1 4| register with the apertures 25 in the torsion,

ring. The key members 45 are then introduced 1 '35 into the apertures 25 and are passed therethrough until the flanges 43 are received within the'slots 41, then bearing'cups 45 or needle bearing 46' and locking washer 41 respectively are inserted.

In order to retain the parts in position as so far assembled, the retaining ring 50 is next slipped and locked by screws 50 over the torsion ring, holding bearing cups '45 or needle bearing 46' and locking washer respectively in place. The retaining ring will prevent withdrawal of the key members 45 and will retain the parts as so far assembled in position. The cover member 5| is next slid over the retaining ring 50.- I have illustrated at6ll suitable sealing means to be introduced between the cover member 5| and the retaining ring which will prevent the escape of lubricant from my assembled universal joint.

As will be more apparent from an inspection of Fig. '7, the cover member 5| has a flange 54 which closely adjoins the shaft 33. The free end ofthe cylindrical portion 55 of the cover isspaced from the outside diameter of the flange v32 a distance 56 to the shaft and retainingell jof'the parts in assembled relation. .Subsequently' the'cover 5| is turned so that the apclrtureftherein no longer overlies the head of, the scr'ew 58. metal plate 22 is pressed-into the 'keyedp art 22 of body 2| The assembled device may be filled through nipple26 with lubricant and is thus permanently vll sealed.

A thin The operation of my improved universal joint is apparent from the foregoing description. Torque is transmitted from the torsion ring 24' to the key member 45 and bearing 45 and thence through the medium of the slot and groove previously described to the key member 4|, which transmits the torque to the upset part 34 of the shaft ,30. The spherical shaped portions 46 and 42, when the device is in assembled relation, are concentric with the center of the member 34. Relative rotation of, for example, the shaft 3| about its own longitudinal axis as well as about. any axis perpendicular to the first and going to the center of the joint, is provided by these spherical cooperating portions of the key members, and by the fact that said pairs of key mem-- bers are axially rotatable. The spherical surfaces in my improved universal joint, as has been described, are of relatively small extent and are formed on relatively small detachable pieces which greatly facilitates the manufacture and reduces the expense thereof. The passageways 31 communicating with the central chamber 36 of the ball member permit lubricant to flow from the central chamber outwardly to the recesses in which the key members 4| are received. This insures constant lubrication of these key members which, as will be apparent, also may serve as bearing members. Lubricant also flows from chamber 36 tolubricate members 45 and the contacting surfaces of the members 4| and 45 or needle bearings 46' respectively.

While I have illustrated and described'various preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various additions, omissions, substitutions and modifications may be made within the scope of my invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A universal joint comprising an annular torsion female member, apertures through said torsion member, a male member received within said torsion member, recesses in said male member registering with the apertures through said torsion member, means connecting said torsion member and said male member, said means comprising a plurality of bodies extending through said apertures, a plurality of bodies seated in said recesses, cooperating tongues and grooves on said bodies, said tongues and grooves having curved surfaces concentric with the pivot point of the joint.

2. A universal joint comprising an annular torsion member, apertures through said torsion member, an enlarged member received within said torsion member, recesses in said enlarged member registering with the apertures through said torsion member, means connecting said torsion member and said enlarged member, said means comprising a plurality of bodies extending through said apertures, a plurality of bodies seated in said recesses, cooperating-tongues and grooves on said bodies, said tongues and grooves having curved surfaces concentric with the pivot point of the joint, and a retaining ring closely surrounding said torsion member and holding said bodies in said apertures.

3. In a universal joint, a torsion ring, apertures through said ring, torque, transmitting bodies extending through said apertures and presenting inwardly concave concentric curved surfaces, convex means engaging said concave surfaces in pivotal relation, said surfaces being provided with torque transmitting portions, and a retaining ring surrounding said torque ring and holding said bodies in assembled relation. x

4. i In a universal joint, a shaft, a flange on said shaft, a cover-member havingan inwardly ex-v tending annular flange closely surroundingsaid.

shaft, and a tubular portion surrounding said shaft but spaced therefrom to provide a spring housing, said tubular portion being spaced from said first mentioned flange a distance sufficiently great to accommodate said spring, a plug adapted to close the space between said first mentioned flange and said tubular portion, and means for securing said plug to saidshaft.

5. In a universal joint, a shaft, a flange on said shaft, a cover member having an inwardly extending annular flange closely surrounding said shaft, and a tubular portion surrounding said shaft but spaced therefrom to provide a spring housing, said tubular portion being spaced from said first mentioned flange a distance sufficiently great to accommodate said spring, a plug adapted to close the space between said first mentioned flange and said tubular portion, and means for securing said plug to said shaft, said means comprising a screw and a rotatable portion with means adapted to provide access to said screw in one position, and to conceal said screw 'in a rotated position.

6. A permanently sealed universal joint comprising a housing including a cover member, resilient means urging said cover to closed position, an abutment for said resilient means, securing means for locking said abutment in place, and means movable with said cover for concealing said securing means.

'7. A universal joint comprising a pair of coupling members having a portion of one member extending into a portion of the other member, means for pivotally connecting said members in torque transmitting relation, comprising pairs of cooperating key elements spaced from each other circumferentially of the members, one element of each pair being mounted on one of the members and the cooperating element of each pair being mounted on the other member, said elements of each pair having interfitting portions cooperating with each other to transmit torque from one member to the other, and said interfitting portions having contacting surfaces concentric with the pivot point of the joint to provide for relative pivotal movement of the members.

8. A universal joint having a predetermined pivot point and comprising a ball member with a surface concentric to the pivot point, a socket member adapted to receive the ball member, torque transmitting means interconnecting the ball and socket members, said torque transmitting means comprising cooperating pairs of elements spaced from each other circumferentially of the pivot point of the joint and the elements of each pair respectively secured to the ball and socket members, one of the elements of each pair having a groove therein extending longitudinally of the axis of said members passing through the pivot point of the joint and having the base of the groove concentric with said pivot point, and the other of the elements of each pair having a key extending into the groove to transmit torque from one of the members to the other member and having the outer surface engageable with the base ofthe groove in the first element and also concentric with the pivot point of the joint to provide for relative pivotal movement of the members about said point.

intersecting the common pivot point-aforesaid and the contacting surfaces of the elements 0! each pair being concentric with said common pivot point, a key extending from one element of each pair into a groove of the cooperating element of each pair, said keys and grooves 'extending generally longitudinally of the axes of thecoupling members and oscillatingly-engaging each other to transmit torque from one coupling member to the other at various angles between 1 the axes of the two coupling'memb'ers.

ANTON F. .GREINER. 

